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Increased Situation Awareness in Major Incidents—Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technique: A Promising Tool

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 April 2012

Jorma Jokela ,
Monica Rådestad ,
Dan Gryth ,
Helené Nilsson ,
Anders Rüter ,
Leif Svensson ,
Ville Harkke ,
Markku Luoto  and
Maaret Castrén
Jorma Jokela*
Affiliation:
Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Hyvinkää, Finland
Monica Rådestad
Affiliation:
Stockholm Prehospital Centre, Södersjukhuset, Sweden Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
Dan Gryth
Affiliation:
Stockholm Prehospital Centre, Södersjukhuset, Sweden Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
Helené Nilsson
Affiliation:
The Centre for Teaching and Research in Disaster Medicine and Traumatology (KMC), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
Anders Rüter
Affiliation:
The Centre for Teaching and Research in Disaster Medicine and Traumatology (KMC), Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden Sophiahemmet University College, Stockholm, Sweden
Leif Svensson
Affiliation:
Stockholm Prehospital Centre, Södersjukhuset, Sweden Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
Ville Harkke
Affiliation:
Institute for Advanced Management Systems Research, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
Markku Luoto
Affiliation:
Logica, Helsinki, Finland
Maaret Castrén
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden Department of Emergency Medicine, Södersjukhuset, Sweden
*
Correspondence: Jorma Jokela, RN, PhD Laurea University of Applied Sciences Uudenmaankatu22 05800 Hyvinkää, Finland E-mail: jorma.jokela@laurea.fi
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Abstract

Introduction: In mass-casualty situations, communications and information management to improve situational awareness is a major challenge for responders. In this study, the feasibility of a prototype system that utilizes commercially available, low-cost components, including Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and mobile phone technology, was tested in two simulated mass-casualty incidents.

Methods: The feasibility and the direct benefits of the system were evaluated in two simulated mass-casualty situations: one in Finland involving a passenger ship accident resulting in multiple drowning/hypothermia patients, and another at a major airport in Sweden using an aircraft crash scenario. Both simulations involved multiple agencies and functioned as test settings for comparing the disaster management’s situational awareness with and without using the RFID-based system. Triage documentation was done using both an RFID-based system, which automatically sent the data to the Medical Command, and a traditional method using paper triage tags. The situational awareness was measured by comparing the availability of up-to date information at different points in the care chain using both systems.

Results: Information regarding the numbers and status or triage classification of the casualties was available approximately one hour earlier using the RFID system compared to the data obtained using the traditional method.

Conclusions: The tested prototype system was quick, stable, and easy to use, and proved to work seamlessly even in harsh field conditions. It surpassed the paper-based system in all respects except simplicity of use. It also improved the general view of the mass-casualty situations, and enhanced medical emergency readiness in a multi-organizational medical setting. The tested technology is feasible in a mass-casualty incident; further development and testing should take place.

Keywords

disaster managementEmergency Medical Servicesmass-casualty situationmobile technologynational triage tagradio frequency identificationRFIDsimulationsituational awarenesssmart tagtriage
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 27 , Issue 1 , February 2012 , pp. 81 - 87
Copyright
Copyright Jokela © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2012

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